Electrode holder



Marchl, 1942. R. w. WELSH ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed April 5, 1941 INVENTO/R ATTOR N EYS eters.

. Patented Mar. 31, 1 942 .l

EnEc'raonE HOLDER o Ralph w. wenn, Camden, N. J. Aoplioauon Apru 3,1941, serial No. 386,741

` (ci. 21e-s) 3 Claims.

lVIy invention relates to equipment for electric welders, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved electrode hold- In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of a holder in accordance with my invention, with certain parts broken away for the sake of illustration;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 31s an enlarged sectional view of the a chuck portion of the holder; f Figure 4 is a sectional view along the of Figure 3; f

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view of the chuck cam;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line line 4-4 Figure '7 is a sectional view of a modifledform of the invention; and

Figure/8 is an elevational view of the structure illustrated in Figure 7.

.In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, the chuck part III is connected with al handle I2provided with a terminal I4 for connection with a current supply cable. Chuck I0 the cam upon further rotation of theoshen ls relatively to thbody I6.

Cil

The face of the cam 3|! engageable with the electrodes is provided with helically contoured ribs 38 engageable with the electrodes for rmly urging the latter against the wall or stop 22. In operation, the electrodes, will, of course, be inserted through the opening 24 and either dropped upon or held against the wall or stop 22. However, when the shell I8 is rotated relatively to the body I6 in one direction the ribs 38 engage the electrodes and press them firmly against the wall or stop. In removing the electrodes, the shell I8 is rotated relatively tothe body I6 in the opposite direction which moves the cam 30 out of pressure engagement with the electrode so that the latter is free to be removed from the chuck.

One end of the body I6 is provided with a threaded shank 40 threaded into a nipple 42 havcomprises a bronze body I6 enclosed in a wrapper or shell I8 oi' insulating material. Insulating material I8v is preferably oi' tubular contour.

, Body I6 is provided with a V-shaped groove 26 extending longitudinally of the shell I8 but terminating short of one end of the body to pro\ vide a wall or abutment 22 constituting a stop for an electrode positioned in the groove 20. 'I'he electrode to be made secure in the-chuck I8 is inserted through an opening 24 in a disc 26 of insulating material, which disc nts snugly inside the shell I8 and is flxedly secured to the body I6 by screws 28. Opening 24 is of suiliciently large diameter to accommodate electrodes of the largest size, and the wallsof the V-shaped groove 28 provide a contour which constitutes a rest for eiIectively supporting electrodes of variable diam- Means for securing the electrode lying in the groove 20 comprises a camrj ilxedly secured to the shell I8 by screws 82. Shell I8' is rotatable relatively to the body I6 about the axis of the ing a small diameter electrode also engageable by ing a flange 44 located intermediate its ends. A washer 46 has peripheral engagement with the inner face of the shell I8 and is xedly related thereto by screws 48.-v Washer 46 has its inner face fitting snugly on the nipple 42 but may be rotated relatively thereto. .Y

A washer 50 is also ttedinside the shell I8 and lies adjacent the washer 46 and embraces the flange 44 on the nipple 42. Washers 46 and 5I! are of insulating material, as well as the third washer 52 lying against the endof th shell I8 ture by bolts 56. Thus the three washers provide a connection between the shell I8 and the body I6 which permits the shell to be rotated relatively to the body but'restrains the shell from relative longitudinal movement. (i

One end of the nipple 421s externally threaded for connection with a socket 58 having a bore 60 for the reception of a sleeve 62 split longitudinally, as at 64. Socket 58 has flat and parallel faces 66 which t between spaced faces 68 in one end of the tubular handle I2. Handle I2 is provided with aligned bores 'I0 for the reception of the sleeve 62 and the latter is provided with internal tapers 12 at each end tapered washers 14 through which a bolt 16 is passed. y The head of the bolt engages one washer and the other washer is threadedly connected with the bolt so that rotation of the bolt causes the washers to be pressed hinto the sleeve 62. Since the sleeve is slotted,- tightening of the bolt for the reception of 1l shifts the washers relatively to the tapers 12 and causes the sleeve 82 to expand against the face defining the bore 80 so as to effectively frictionally connect the socket 58 with the sleeve. The nipple l2 is also caused to frictionally engage the sleeve 62 by [turning it into the socket lil as far as it will go. Tightening of the bolt 1C xedly secures all the parts so as to hold the chuck III at the desired angle withrespect to the handle I2. Mere loosening of the bolt 18 permits the chuck to be pivoted about the axis of the bolt 16. material, and the handle i2 comprises a tubular body 18 enclosed in an insulating covering 8U. The end of the body 'I8 remote from the bolt 16 is provided with a wall 82 having a threaded socket 8l for connection with the threaded shank 86 of the terminal il, the latter being provided with a threaded cable receiving bore 88.

Figs. '7 and 8 illustrate a plate 9U which may be secured to the disc 26 by a bolt 92. Plate 9D is provided with a bore 94 of small diameter which bore snugly receives an electrode of predetermined diameter. Thus plates 9D having bores 84 of diameters corresponding to the respective diameters of a series of electrodes may be mounted on the disc 26. A

The holder embodies a chuck designed to ac commodate electrodes of variable diameters, wherein the electrode mechanism is so devised as to eiectively clamp the electrode in position, regardless of its diameter, in addition to affording a good grip on the electrode with respect to holding it in the groove 2li as well as against the wall or stop 22. The chuck l may be easily and quickly adjusted to any desirable angle with respect to the handle i2.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

The washers 14 are of insulating l. In an electrode holder, the combination o! a body having a groove defined by converging walls, a shell oi insulating material rotatable relatively to said body about the axis of said groove, and a cam iixedly carried by said shell arranged for pressure engagement with the electrode to press the electrode against said walls.

2. In an electrode holder, the combination of a body having a groove defined by converging walls, a shell of insulating material rotatable relatively to said body about the axis of said groove, a cam carried by said shell arranged for pressure engagement with the electrode to press the electrode against said walls, said body being provided with a stop located at one end of said groove for engagement by the electrode, and said cam being provided with structural irregularities angled to engage the electrode and press the latter rrnly against said stop.

3. In an electrode holder, the combination of a body having a groove defined by converging walls, a shell of insulating material rotatable relatively to said body about the axis of said groove, a cam carried by said shell arranged for pressure engagement with the electrode to press the electrode against said walls, said body being provided with a stop located at one end of said groove for engagement by the electrode, said cam being provided with structural irregularities angled to engage the electrode and press the latter rmly against said stop, a disc of insulating material mounted on said body and having an opening located in alignment with said groove for the reception of the electrode, a flange on said body, and insulative washers ilxedly secured one to the other and to said shell and coacting with saidvfiange to restrain the. shell from relative movement longitudinally of the axis of said groove. r

f RALPH W. WELSH, 

